Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Gothenburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Gothenburg? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Gothenburg?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Gothenburg €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is €91. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Riga and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Gothenburg €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Gothenburg €74
Compare Hotels in Riga and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Gothenburg? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Riga Hotel Prices and Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Gothenburg €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $267
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $138
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $131
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $487
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg and Riga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRiga €33Gothenburg €36
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $138
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $139
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Gothenburg €14
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $86
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $181
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $21
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Gothenburg €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $523
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,320
When comparing the travel costs between Riga and Gothenburg, we can see that Riga is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Gothenburg?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Gothenburg, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Riga or Gothenburg?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Riga is around the same temperature as Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Gothenburg. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Riga or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Gothenburg. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In October, Riga is generally cooler than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Riga or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Gothenburg. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. Riga is much colder than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Gothenburg. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Riga or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Riga is around the same temperature as Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F).
In April, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Gothenburg. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Riga
| Riga | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.